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    BSA Thunderbolt, Lightning, Bantam Trademarked – New Rivals To Royal Enfield

    BSA has had a good start in the UK, with Gold Star emerging as the bestselling retro motorcycle in March with sales at 253 unitsBSA Gold Star on test in India
    With good response to Gold Star in the UK, BSA is looking to expand its portfolio and explore other international markets as well. Towards that end, BSA has plans to resurrect some more of the iconic BSA models.
    Three new trademark applications have been filed for Lightning, Thunderbolt and Bantam titles. The applications have been filed in the US, Australia and New Zealand. If approved, retro enthusiasts can look forward to some more exhilarating rides to experience the glorious motorcycling era of 60s and 70s.
    BSA Lightning, Thunderbolt – Names trademarked
    It is not certain what approach BSA will take for the resurrected Lightning and Thunderbolt bikes. In their original format, both bikes were powered by a 654cc OHV parallel twin engine. While Lighting was an all-round sports machine, BSA Thunderbolt was positioned as a touring motorcycle. The bikes were in production in the 60s and 70s.
    If BSA chooses to continue with the original format, the resurrected Lightning and Thunderbolt will turn out to be twin-cylinder bikes. They will primarily rival the likes of Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650 and Super Meteor 650. However, BSA already has Gold Star that seems to be doing a good job of challenging Royal Enfield 650cc bikes. Gold Star has a single-cylinder setup, but that hasn’t dented its prospects.
    BSA Scrambler 650cc modification
    The other option is to upgrade to a higher capacity to take on other prominent brands such as Triumph’s Bonneville range. Even Bonneville was a 650cc bike in the 60s. It has now moved up to 900cc to 1,200cc segment. Having a diversified portfolio seems more relevant, as it will allow BSA to target a larger customer base.
    BSA Bantam could be based on New Jawa / Yezdi
    In its original format, BSA Bantam was a two-stroke motorcycle, available in 125cc, 150cc and 175cc variants. It was in production from 1948 to 1971. The resurrected BSA Bantam is likely to be a smaller capacity retro machine. It could borrow the hardware from either Jawa or Yezdi bikes. New BSA Bantam will primarily rival Royal Enfield bikes in 350cc segment. It will also take on upcoming smaller capacity bikes from Harley-Davidson-Hero and Bajaj-Triumph.
    The fact that trademark applications have been filed in the US reveals that BSA is serious about resurrecting these iconic models. As per new legislation in the US, brands cannot randomly trademark names that they don’t plan to use. They can get trademark protection only for names that they intend to use in near future. This is quite different from other locations, where one can get trademarks registered without any commitment to launching the product.
    As far as Indian market is concerned, BSA doesn’t seem to have any immediate plans. The company will continue to focus on international markets. BSA’s entry into India can be considered at a later date. As of now, India is being used solely as a production hub for BSA motorcycles. More

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    Ola Electric Scooter Stunt With 6 People On Board – CEO Calls It A Beast

    Ola had recently issued a recall over the quality issues of the front fork of their electric scooterOla Electric Scooter Stunt
    Ola Electric had recently issued a voluntary recall of their scooter. This was in a response to multiple front fork breakdown cases reported across the country. Customers got a beefier front fork unit equipped for free. This new fork is said to withstand extreme conditions. Ola Electric mentions the new fork has a “much higher” FOS (Factor Of Safety) too.
    Ola Electric has now shared a stunt video of their electric scooter, in an attempt to demonstrate toughness of its new front fork. In the video uploaded on Ola Electric, six people squeezed onto an Ola S1 scooter and rode it on uneven terrain for a brief period. Is this the right way of demonstrating strength of front forks?
    Ola Electric Scooter Stunt
    It seems that automakers are taking a rather offensive route to counter criticism. We saw Mahindra Scorpio N subjected under a waterfall to show durability of its sunroof. Now we see Ola taking a similar route. No explanation was given to customers regarding do’s and don’ts in both cases.
    Speaking about the latest Ola electric scooter stunt with 6 people on board, all of them wore helmets. This stunt didn’t involve a public road. All individuals involved in this stunt seem to be teenagers. If you can’t spot the 6th person, he is sitting on the floorboard. You’re welcome. At the end of the video, Ola flashes a hashtag – #BuiltToPerfection.
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    In this 17-second video, we can see an Ola S1 scooter almost slammed to the ground. And still manages to traverse uneven and varied terrain. Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal took to Twitter to showcase the strength of its new front fork. He tweeted “Wow! The toughest stress test I’ve seen of any scooter till date. Ola S1 is a beast.”
    Ola Electric Stunt – 6 people on board
    Is a brief load like this equivalent to months or years of real-world usage with unfavourable road conditions? No. But the scooter did manage to hold on to its own against 6 young individuals. Proper comparison between old and new forks showing results of load tests, stress tests, bend tents, twist tests and compression tests would have made it more professional.
    Ola Front Fork Issue
    There have been multiple front-fork failure reports on Ola Scooters. This is a serious potential hazard and could very well lead to casualties, if unlucky. Single-sided fork lends a photogenic aspect to the scooter’s right side. Customers were hoping to get twin fork setups like on Ola S1 Air as part of the free-of-cost voluntary recall. That isn’t the case and Ola has issued a stronger single-sided front fork unit instead.
    Durability reports of this new fork, in the long run, are yet to come. Also, FOS is an engineering term. Most products in India have much higher FOS anyway. That’s how a 1-tonne rated truck carries almost twice the load and a commuter motorcycle can take up to 3 times its intended load. More

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    Top 10 Two Wheelers FY2023 – Splendor, Activa, Pulsar, Jupiter, Access

    Hero Splendor dominated the sales chart to finish ahead of arch rival Honda Activa and CB Shine by a significant marginHero Splendor Black Edition
    Top 10 two wheeler sales saw positive growth in FY 2023 to 1,12,48,574 units, a 15.28 percent YoY increase as against 97,57,340 units sold in FY 2022. This was a volume growth of 14,91,234 units. Most models on this list has seen YoY growth except for the Hero HF Deluxe, Bajaj Platina and TVS XL100
    When talking about sales volumes, there is none that can beat the Hero Splendor in the motorcycle segment and Honda Activa in the scooter segment. These two models dominated sales charts in FY 2022 and continue to rule the segment even in FY 2023. Even on a monthly basis, it is these two models that garner the highest sales.
    Top 10 Two Wheelers FY 2023 – Over 1.12 Crore 2Ws Sold
    Hero Splendor was the most favoured two wheeler in FY 2023 with 32,55,744 units sold during the period. This was a 22.15 percent YoY growth from 26,65,386 units sold in FY 2022. The Hero Splendor commands a 28.94 percent share on this list.
    At No. 2 was the Honda Activa scooter of which 21,49,658 units were sold in FY 2023, up 25.84 percent as against 17,08,305 units sold in FY 2022 relating to a 4,41,353 unit volume growth. Honda Activa electric scooter is in the pipeline. This will be the first electric scooter from the Honda stables which is set to launch sometime early next year.
    Top 10 Two Wheelers FY 2023
    Top 10 two wheeler sales list had the CB Shine at No. 3. Sales improved 9.74 percent YoY to 12,09,025 units in FY 2023 from 11,01,684 units sold in FY 2022 to command a 10.75 percent share on this list. Honda also launched the new Shine 100 in March 2023 which will be seen as a strong competitor to the Hero Splendor, Bajaj Platina 100 and TVS Star City Plus.
    Hero MotoCorp’s HF Deluxe followed at No. 4 on this list with a YoY de-growth. Sales dipped 9.71 percent to 10,52,034 units in FY 2023 from 11,65,163 units sold in FY 2022. This was a volume de-growth of 1,13,129 units while market share stood at 9.35 percent. Recording a 32.43 percent YoY sales growth was the Bajaj Pulsar. Sales increased to 10,29,057 units in FY 2023, up from 7,77,044 units sold in FY 2022. This was volume growth of 2,52,013 units while the Pulsar commanded a 9.15 percent share on this list.
    TVS Jupiter, Bajaj Platina, Suzuki Access
    Lower down the list was the TVS Jupiter scooter that has recorded the highest YoY growth from among the others on this list. It saw sales of 7,29,546 units in FY 2023, up 44.59 percent over 5,04,567 units sold in FY 2022. The Jupiter scooter is also set to receive an electric version. It will be seen as a strong contender to the Honda Activa Electric.
    Top 10 Two Wheelers FY 2023
    Sales de-growth was also reported for the Bajaj Platina, sales of which fell 7.26 percent YoY to 5,34,017 units in FY 2023 from 5,75,847 units sold in FY 2022. There was the Suzuki Access scooter that followed with a YoY sales growth of 8.30 percent to 4,98,844 units in FY 2023 from 4,60,596 units sold in FY 2022.
    TVS XL 100 moped sales also fell 6.68 percent YoY to 4,41,567 units in FY 2023 down from 4,73,150 units sold in FY 2022 relating to a 31,583 unit volume de-growth. At no. 10 was the TVS Apache with 3,49,082 units sold in FY 2023, up 7.12 percent when compared to 3,25,598 units sold in FY 2022. The TVS Apache series also recorded a sales milestone of 5 million (50 lakh units) in Feb 2023. More

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    Harley Davidson X500 Launch Price 44k Yuan (Rs 5.3 L) – American Italian

    The 500cc parallel-twin DOHC 8V motor on Harley-Davidson X500 is similar to Benelli Leoncino 500 with 46.8 bhp and 46 NmHarley Davidson X500
    Harley-Davidson X500 has been launched in China. This comes after the launch of X350 and teaser of HD-4XX for Indian market. New X350 and X500 are China-specific for now and will likely ship to other markets in the future. Both are manufactured by China’s QJ motorcycle brand.
    These are not likely to hit our shores. Harley-Davidson is strategically partnering up with local manufacturers for better market penetration. For China, it is QJ and for India, it is Hero MotoCorp. There are three colours to choose from, Dazzling Black, Vibrant Orange and Bright Silver. It costs 44,388 Yuan (approx Rs. 5.29 lakh).
    Harley-Davidson X500 – The American Cousin For Chinese-Owned Italian Bike
    Underneath all the American styling, Harley-Davidson X500 is a Benelli Leoncino 500. Benelli is now part of QJ. Harley X500 is an extensive badge engineering exercise between QJ and Harley-Davidson. One look at the spec sheet is enough to say that both Harley-Davidson X500 and Benelli Leoncino 500 share a lot of components.
    Speaking of spec sheets, both X500 and Leoncino 500 get the same 500cc parallel twin engine. It has 4V per cylinder, a DOHC setup and a liquid-cooled architecture. This engine is capable of generating 46.8 bhp of power at 8500 RPM and 46 Nm of torque at 6000 RPM. There are slight differences in dimensions, lean angles and wheelbase.
    Harley Davidson X500
    Most of the componentry is similar to. Harley-Davidson X500 dons 50mm USD front forks with 124 mm travel. It even supports rebound adjustment. There is a flatter rear subframe than Leoncino 500. It is suspended by the same mono-shock unit with 112 mm travel. It gets preload and rebound adjustments. (Suspension travel is from Leoncino 500).
    Engine crankcase is identical, but gets Harley-Davidson branding. Fuel tank shape is almost identical to Leoncino 500 and can hold 13L of fuel. Alloy wheels, dual barrel exhaust canister, dual 320 mm rotors with 4-piston caliper front and single 260 mm rotor with single-piston caliper rear brake setup are identical too. Switchable dual-channel ABS is present as well.
    Harley X500 Features And Specs
    X500 gets a different circular LED headlight with illuminated Harley-Davidson lettering and circular turn indicators doubling as brake lights. Harley-Davidson has installed Maxxis Supermaxx tyres measuring 120/70-R17 at the front and 160/60-R17 at the rear. Fatter rubber would lend an even muscular stance.
    Harley Davidson X500 vs X350
    There is a part-digital instrument console as well which looks relatively modern. Footpegs look center set, enabling an upright riding posture and neutral stance. All these are mounted on a trellis frame that looks identical to that of Leoncino 500. Harley-Davidson X500 weighs 208 kg wet. And is just a kilo heavier than its QJ-Benelli counterpart.
    At Rs. 5.29 lakh, X500 would be a good addition to Harley’s Indian lineup. But we will witness the Hero-Harley HD-4XX instead. It will bear a single-cylinder engine and launch at a much lower price tag. More

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    Bajaj Triumph Scrambler Spied Ahead Of Launch – New Details

    With its compact, sharp profile, upcoming Bajaj-Triumph Scrambler can emerge as a capable challenger to Hunter 350Bajaj Triumph Scrambler Spied – Royal Enfield RivalBajaj has taken over Triumph India operations as part of the partnership deal signed. Later this year, we will get to see their first motorcycle, which is likely to be a Scrambler. While earlier test mules were spotted overseas, the new Bajaj-Triumph bike has now started its test runs in India.Launch is expected in last quarter of CY2023, as revealed by KTM CEO, Stefan Pierer. In an interview, Stefan had stated that Bajaj-Triumph partnership is not a threat to KTM. He had said that competition makes them better.Bajaj-Triumph Scrambler 400 bike – New detailsUpcoming Bajaj-Triumph bike is anyways not a rival to any of the KTM bikes. It will primarily challenge Royal Enfield 350cc bikes such as Hunter 350. From Bajaj’s perspective, this will be the company’s second attempt to take on Royal Enfield. The earlier attempt with Dominar didn’t quite create the kind of buzz Bajaj was aiming for.As the test mule has proper fit and finish and there doesn’t seem to be any temporary add-ons, it indicates that the bike could be nearing production stage. Upcoming Bajaj-Triumph bike has round LED headlamp, sleek turn indicators, classic fuel tank design, USD front forks, monoshock rear suspension, alloy wheels and blacked-out engine bay. Take a look at the detailed video shared by The Fat Biker channel.[embedded content][embedded content]Riding stance is fairly comfortable with centrally mounted foot pegs and slightly elevated handlebar. The bike has disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS is expected to be offered as standard. In comparison to an earlier sighting when the test mule was seen with single-exhaust tips, this recent version has a dual exhaust tip. It seems to compliment the bike’s overall design and could be functionally relevant as well. It is possible that aural experience could also have been improved with the dual exhaust exit.Bajaj Triumph Scrambler Spied – Royal Enfield RivalOther key details include saree guard and pillion grab rail. The bike gets a twin-piece seat, which appears to be quite comfortable for the rider. However, the pillion seat section is a bit narrow. It could be okay for short rides, but doesn’t seem like a good idea for longer journeys. The test mule has Triumph accessories like soft top-box, saddle bag, tank bag, luggage mounts as well as protection parts.Bajaj-Triumph bike engine, specsIt is expected that upcoming Bajaj-Triumph range will have 250cc and 350-400cc versions. While official specs have not been revealed, the 250cc version could be generating around 30 bhp of max power. The larger 350cc bike will churn out around 40 bhp. The bikes will have features such as slipper clutch, liquid cooling, ride-by-wire tech and quick shifter. Connectivity features could also be on offer. In the spy video, we can notice an analogue speedometer, MID with gear position indicator, fuel gauge and tachometer.Bajaj Triumph Scrambler Spied – Royal Enfield RivalLaunch price of upcoming Bajaj-Triumph bike is likely to be around Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. It is likely that multiple body styles such as roadster, scrambler, cafe racer and flat tracker will be available. Just like made-in-India KTMs, upcoming Bajaj-Triumph bikes will also be targeted at export markets. Harley Davidson has embarked on a similar mission with its entry-level motorcycle in partnership with Hero MotoCorp. More

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    2024 Hero Xpulse 420cc Render Based On Spy Shots – Himalayan, KTM 390 Rival

    Hero is getting ready to launch a range of new motorcycles in the 400cc segment – One of them will be an ADVHero Xpulse 420cc – RenderHero MotoCorp is getting ready to launch a new adventure motorcycle, with a larger engine. It is likely to have the same engine which will power the upcoming Harley Davidson for India. This is rumoured to be a 420cc engine, and could carry the name Xpulse 420.Testing for the same has already begun and spy shots have leaked online. Rendering artist Pratyush Rout has penned down his vision of what Xpulse 420 could look like. His renderings are based on spy shots, capturing most of its essence. Xpulse 420 renders get colours from Xpulse 200 2V and 4V.New Hero Xpulse 420 Spied In Ladakh2024 Hero Xpulse 420 Rendered – Ready To Off-roadThe name is an amalgamation of existing Xpulse lineup and 420cc engine (rumoured) co-developed with Harley-Davidson. Harley-Davidson’s upcoming single-cylinder Roadster will get this engine first. HD-4XX was present on the number plate on Harley’s prototype.As opposed to the skinny Xpulse 200, our render of 2024 Xpulse 420 comes off as significantly substantial. It gets a bikini fairing which neatly integrates into the muscular fuel tank. They even cleverly double as tank shrouds or extensions as well. Neatly integrated into its fairing, is a sharp beak. There is a sleek LED headlight below a prominent windscreen. Height of this windscreen is adjustable too, accommodating riders of varied heights.Hero Xpulse 420cc – RenderThere is a scooped-out rider’s seat, which should establish a (relatively) lower seat height. A slightly stepped pillion seat is present too. and the rear subframe ends in a luggage rack, doubling as grab rail for pillions. A chunky up-swept exhaust will ensure respectable water-wading capability. The red-painted tubular frame adds a sporty touch.Hero Xpulse 420cc – RenderMonotone and Dual-tone Colours From Xpulse 2V and 4V2024 Hero Xpulse 420 gets USD front forks, seen on test mules. Front fork covers neatly integrate into the motorcycle’s front fenders. Wire-spoke wheels might be 21” front and 18” rear. We wish Hero offers fatter, tubeless tyres with the production version of larger Xpulse.Xpulse 420 branding on its fuel tank and Hero branding on its side body panels is in line with what the company had done with Xpulse 200. Colour combinations with Xpulse 420 match those offered with Xpulse 200. These are Matte Nexus Blue, Polestar Blue and Sports Red combinations from Xpulse 200 4V and Matte Green, Panther Black, White and Matte Grey from the now discontinued Xpulse 200 2V.Hero Xpulse 420cc – RenderHero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson’s new 420cc – 450cc platform will spawn multiple new vehicles. Larger Xpulse will primarily lock its horns with KTM 390 ADV, BMW G310GS and upcoming Royal Enfield Himalyan 450. 2023 Hero Xpulse 420 could be priced aggressively in the range of Rs 3-4 lakh upon launch.Disclaimer – Design renders presented in this blog are solely for illustrative purposes and have not been commissioned, approved, or endorsed by the manufacturer. Designs presented here may not reflect the final product or the manufacturer’s intentions. The renders are provided as conceptual designs or artistic interpretations only, and their accuracy or feasibility cannot be guaranteed. More

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    Yamaha FZ-S V3 Matte Black Is Back – Launch Price Rs 1.21 Lakh

    The new change with Yamaha FZ-S V3 lineup is the Matte Black colour – Re-introduced after a long gapYamaha FZ-S V3 Matte BlackFZ lineup is the largest volume generator for the Japanese brand. In February 2023, FZ contributed 17,262 units and was the only one to register positive growth in MoM and YoY analysis. FZ lineup consists of V3 and newer V4 models. Only FZ V3 spawns regular and S variants, while the latter gets Deluxe sub-variant as well. Keeping the entry-level FZ lineup updated is key for Yamaha.Team Blue has reintroduced Matte Black colour with its ever-popular FZ-S V3. Only Standard variant of FZ-S V3 gets this new colour. Deluxe variants continue to get Metallic Black, Metallic Grey and Majesty Red shades. The new colour with Standard variants sit alongside Matte Red and Dark Matte Blue colours.Yamaha FZ-S V3 Matte Black Colour ReintroducedYamaha FZ-S V3 Matte Black costs Rs. 1,21,400 (ex-sh, Delhi). Price is similar to other colour shades offered with Standard variants. Yamaha had discontinued this colour some time ago but is now bringing it back to the table. FZ-S V3 doesn’t get any mechanical revisions. Componentry is retained too. Hat tip to Nikam Yamaha for sharing the update.The new Matte Black brings freshness to an existing colour palette. Matte Black shade is the dominant colour and gets contrasting silver finishes to add a dash of sophistication. More so, than Matte Red and Dark Matte Blue shades. Silver accents are present below tank shrouds, side body panel, front fender and exhaust cover. Gold-coloured rims are part of Deluxe variants only.2023 Yamaha FZS-FI PricesMechanically, it is the same ol’ Yamaha FZ that we are familiar with. The same 149cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine with a 2V head is present. It generates 12.2 bhp of power at 7,250 RPM and 13.3 Nm of torque at 5,500 RPM. It gets a 5-speed gearbox. FZ offers an upright riding position, perfect for its intended purpose as an entry-level street bike.Yamaha FZ-S V3 componentry includes conventional telescopic front forks, a 7-step adjustable rear mono-shock, a wide handlebar, 282 mm front and 220 mm rear disc brakes with single-channel ABS, 100/80-17 front and 140/60-17 rear tyres, and more. Seat height is 790 mm, kerb weight is 135 kg and fuel tank is 13L.Yamaha R3 and MT-03 InboundYamaha recently showcased their multi-cylinder lineup at a dealer event recently. YZF-R3, MT-03, MT-07 and MT-09 were showcased to dealers for feedback. Yamaha intends to bring some or all of these to India later this year.Hottest of the bunch are likely to be YZF-R3 and MT-03. Both these motorcycles get with a 321 cc parallel-twin motor capable of dishing out 42 PS of power at 10,750 RPM and 29.6 Nm of torque at 9,000 RPM. R3 weighs 169 kg and its naked counterpart MT-03 weighs 168 kg. Prices could be in the Rs 4-5 lakh range. More

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    Hero Xtreme 160R Spied With USD Front Forks – Pulsar NS160 Rival

    Hero Xtreme 160R is currently priced in the range of Rs 1.18 lakh to Rs 1.3 lakh, ex-shHero Xtreme 160R USD Front Forks SpiedMajority of Hero’s sales are driven by budget commuters like Splendor, Super Splendor, Passion, Glamour and the likes. In premium 160cc commuter space, Hero has Xtreme 160R, which doesn’t sell as much as the company would have liked. Hero can change this around and turn the tides toward its favour by making key changes to this machine.New Hero Xtreme 160R USD Forks Launch SoonWe’re talking about decisive factors like the USD front forks which were recently introduced in rival Bajaj Pulsar NS160. Latest test mule of Xtreme 160R has been spotted with USD front forks, indicating that it might launch soon.Apart from USD forks, there are going to be new colours as well as certain design changes to establish an iterative change with 160R. These changes were hidden under the camouflage. That said, we could spot the presence of a muscular grab rail.What Will Be Continued From Outgoing Model?There are a lot of good bits about Hero Xtreme 160R that will be carried over to this upcoming update. For starters, Hero Xtreme 160R is a well-equipped motorcycle with LED headlights, LED turn indicators, hazard light function, LED tail lights with smoked effect housing, fully digital instrument cluster with negative LCD and gear position indicator, muscular design and more.Hero Xtreme 160R USD Front Forks SpiedOne of the highlights of Hero Xtreme 160R has been its lower kerb weight. At just 138 kg (for rear drum variant), it is one of the lightest motorcycles in the segment, second to only TVS Apache RTR 160 2V. With impeccable ride and dynamics already established, Hero seems to have a solid baseline on which this update might build on.Hero Xtreme 160R USD Front Forks SpiedAlso, the 163 cc single-cylinder engine making 15 bhp of power and 14 Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed gearbox is likely to be carried over. Single-channel ABS with rear optional disc brake will also be carried over, instead of a dual-channel option.What Do We Expect From This Update?With the launch of Bajaj Pulsar NS160 with USD front forks, Hero doesn’t want to be left behind in offering its customers a good riding package. In comes Hero Xtreme 160R with USD front forks which will offer enhanced corner-carving capabilities. Expect prices of Hero Xtreme 160R USD variant to be higher by about Rs 5k-10k, than the current version.Hero Xtreme 160R USD Front Forks SpiedWe hope Hero offers the same instrument cluster as Xpulse 200, 200T and Xtreme 200S on Xtreme 160R. This enables Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation as well. There is a tiny possibility of Xtreme 160R getting promoted to 200cc class with upcoming Karizma’s 210cc engine, now that Hunk is being tested with the same 160cc engine. More